Friday 16 May 2008 OTTAWA: EU SAID MISSING CHANCE FOR TRADE DEAL WITH CANADA
Federal Trade Minister David Emerson says the EU is mistaken not to show greater interest in its trade with Canada. He made that evaluation while speaking at a conference on that subject in the capital. Mr. Emerson says there's no reason why the two parties shouldn't eventually conclude a free-trade accord, as the Premier of Quebec, Jean Charest, has been urging for the past two years. In June 2007 during a Canada-EU summit, both sides agreed to conduct a study which will assess the advantages and costs of a closer economic partnership. Canada-EU trade is worth about $110 billion a year.
Friday 21 December 2007 Border checks end in new EU states
Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Malta have joined the European Union's Schengen zone nations within which people can travel without passports. Companies will find it much easier to move their goods within the free trade area, while the external borders are getting tighter security.
Tuesday 30 October 2007 Steel makers press EU for Asian import duties
BRUSSELS–European Union steel makers fired the first shot yesterday in what could be a major trade battle with China by asking Brussels to slap anti-dumping duties on Chinese and other Asian steel exports.
Thursday 07 June 2007 First free-trade deal in 6 years expected11
Ottawa preparing to announce successful conclusion of talks with European Free Trade Association and commence similar negotiations with Peru and Colombia
Giants forced to dance
May 24th 2007 | BERLIN AND LONDON From Economist.com
Turmoil among the corporate champions
Claudio Munoz
AT A time when Europe’s big companies can hold their heads up high, with results comparable to those of America’s corporate giants, comes a crop of boardroom upheavals and struggles for control—a surprising occurrence in the midst of a boom, and one that could mean tougher times ahead.
May 18, 2007 After Samara Expect little from the EU summit with Russia
EU leaders travel to Samara, Russia on May 18th in an attempt to resolve serious differences with Russia across a range of issues. A new EU-Russia treaty has been ruled out; any agreement that does come out of the meeting will be limited; and the best hope is for relations not to deteriorate further. Germany, which as president of the EU will lead discussions, will increasingly face a major foreign policy dilemma of its own: whether to pursue stronger bilateral relations with Russia, or to continue seeking a more complex EU-based policy over the coming years, but risk weakening Germany's own special relationship. The central problem is that the foreign policy outlook of both the EU and Russia has in recent years fundamentally changed, as a result of the accession of new east European members, and the growing assertiveness of energy-rich Russia. As a result, previous policy aimed at drawing Russia into the liberal democratic fold, through a mixture of agreements, concessions and admonishments will no longer be appropriate.
Thursday 22 February 2007ec Turn back, huddled masses
The European Union hopes to stem the immigration tide
Monday 19 February 2007 Economic growth in EU may outstrip U.S.
European Union will grow faster than previously expected this year and may outpace U.S. growth, EU officials forecast
Tuesday 02 January 2007
BRUSSELS, Jan. 1 — Romania and Bulgaria joined the European Union on Monday, helping to end geographic divisions left over from the cold war and extending the borders of the now 27-member bloc eastward to the Black Sea.
In Bucharest, Romania, President Traian Basescu said Sunday night that the entry into the European Union signaled the end of a painful 17-year process. “We arrived in Europe, welcome to Europe,” he said to rapturous applause from a crowd in University Square. “This is an enormous chance for new generations.” W-N
2006
Nov 24, 2006 MW Euro breaks $1.30 for first time since April 2005
LONDON (MarketWatch) -- The euro broke through the $1.30 level on Friday for the first time since April 2005, as the dollar's rapid decline since Wednesday continued. The euro rose to $1.3019 from $1.1948, and the dollar fell to 115.86 yen from 116.27 yen
Monday May 22, 2006 nyt U.S. Is Proposing European Shield for Iran Missiles A new U.S. antimissile site in Europe would be designed to stop attacks by Iran against the United States and its European allies.
Friday May 12, 2006 maisonneuve.orgBOMBS OVER EUROPE The
Citizen and the
Post both lead with reports on Canada’s support for a US-style
missile defence shield over Europe. Two days ago, the European plan to
start discussing ballistic missile defence was unveiled in Brussels
“quietly and with little fanfare.” The CanWest articles (both
by Mike Blanchfield) report that Canada “fully endorsed the
decision” to start political talks on the issue within NATO, noting
the move could be a “major political challenge” for Stephen
Harper, just as the US plan proved to be a hot potato for the previous
government. The system would be “a virtual mirror image of the US
shield for North America,” with ground-based rockets shooting down
hostile missiles outside the atmosphere. Blanchfield emphasizes the tricky
domestic politics at play: Canadian involvement in the new shield could
spark the ire of Quebecers (who were most opposed to the US shield
before)—just the people Harper is trying to court in time for the
next election.
Monday Dec 5, 2005 rci The European Union will make no more concessions to reduce its agricultural tariffs until other countries make significant concessions of their own. The message was delivered by E.U. Trade Commissioner, Peter Mandelson, at the meeting of the Group of Seven finance ministers in London. Canada's finance minister, Ralph Goodale, was among those in attendance. Agricultural subsidies will be a main issue of contention when the World Trade Organization holds an important meeting in Hong Kong later this month. Mr. Mandelson criticized Britain's finance minister, Gordon Brown, for suggesting drastic reforms of Europe's agricultural policy. At the same meeting in London, Brazil and India made an attempt to break the impasse by offering trade concessions on industrial goods and services in return for similar concessions from developed countries.
By Peter van Ham
Think rioting in France and recent rejections of the European Union constitution signal the end of the Europe? Not so. The European Union is still a model citizen, it just does a lousy job of selling itself at home and abroad. It’s time for Brussels to learn its own brand.
Friday Oct 7, 2005 European Central Bank leaves rate steady The European Central Bank held its key interest rate steady at 2 percent on Thursday, despite concerns about Europe's sluggish economy.
Thursday Sep 1, 2005 ec Trade disputes
Chinese-made bras, blouses and T-shirts are piling up at customs checkpoints across Europe, having already bumped up against import limits set earlier this year. The European Union has sent a team of officials to Beijing to negotiate a way out of the crisis. But European retailers are just as annoyed at the quotas as the Chinese Full article
Affordable Europe: City Guides April 22, 2007
BBC
Down a gear Nov 14th 2006 
Stephen S. Poloz
Haughty indifference, or masterly inactivity? Jul 14th 2005 
Europe’s new divisions Nov 25th 2004 
Affordable Europe nyt April 23, 2006 ;){kind=link}